Game-board



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'ALBERTF. EMMONS, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO I.LEONARD ARONSON, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAME-BOARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Aug. 5, 1919.

Application filed December as, 1917. Serial No. 209,209.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT F. EMMONS, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Swissvale, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Game-Boards;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof. My invention relates to a game apparatus, and moreparticularly to game apparatus involving the principles of thewell-known game of checkers,

The object of my invention is to provide a game which will stimulate warinterest and familiarize the players in the use of war terms, as Well asentertain and amuse men in the ranks, Whether in cantonments, in Y. M.(J. A. huts, or even in the trenches.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view of aboard for usein playing my improved game; Figs. 2 and 3 indicate some of the checkersor playing-pieces; Fig. 4 is an enlarged top view of one of the checkerswith the insignia thereon; Fig. 5 is a like view showing a differentinsignia; Fig. 6 is a top view of one of the crowningcheckers of oneside; and Fig. 7 a like view -of one of the crowning-checkers of theopposing side.

In the drawing, the numeral 2 designates a suitable board formed ofpasteboard, wood, papier-mach, or any other suitable material; and onthe board is laid out a square 3 made up of a number of smaller squares,just as on the ordinary checkerboard, with the alternate squares ofdifferent colors. The middle section of squares on the board isdesignated as no mans land, and on opposite sides of this are threelines of squares designated as first trench, second trench, andartillery, respectively. Outside of the main square 3 at 01)- positeends are what are designated as the tanks, consisting of circular orother shaped fi res 4, some of said figures being plain whlle othershave numerals, such as C 20, (C 30, C 60' I At each side of the mainsquare 3 are the counters 5, which are termed prison camps, and thecounting isdone by placing pins 6 in the different holes in the centerfor the keeping of the score.

The ordinary playing-pieces or checkers 7 tions; for instance, half thecheckers will have the shield 8 as the insignia of the United States ontheir upper faces, and the other half will have the iron cross 9, theinsignia of Germany,-the bottom faces, as stated above, bearing thenumerals. However, one of the checkers bearing the in signia of Germanywill have the iron cross on both sides, and this for the purpose ofhaving a joker, which increases the score, and for the purpose ofexciting greater interest in the game, as will more fully hereinafterappear.

In Figs. 6 and 7 are shown the crowningcheckers 10 and 11, which are tobe placed upon the circular figures 4, or tanks, and thesecrowning-pieces have head-gear typical of the difi'erent countries; forinstance, the checker 10 has the hat typical ofUncle Sam, and thechecker 11 has the helmet typical of the German. These crowningpieceswill, as stated, be arranged in'a row outside of the main playing-square3, and will be taken from the circular figures 4 and placed on thecheckers as they reach the king row, or artillery line, as it isindicated.

In the playing of the game, the checkers 7 are arranged in the samemanner as in the ordinary game of checkers on the three rows of squareswith the numbers face down or concealed so that the opponents do notknow the value of the different checkers. The game proceds in theordinary manner of playing checkers, and the object, of course, is totake as many prisoners as possible, and the higher the number on theprisoners, the higher the count. When one of and the third counts doublethe number plus 20 the fourth, double the number plus 30, and the fifth,double the number plus 60.

- whereupon the score is 15, and the peg is placed in figure 1 on thefirst row and a peg in figure 5 on the second row, which Will indicate15. Suppose the score stood 98 'and' the next risoner is number 11 makin7 the score 109, a peg is inserted at,figure 1 in the first row,a peg atzero in the second roW,and at 9 in the third row.

The first soldier to receive a crown or become a tank may be number9,this is doubled and added to'the total score. The second tank isscored in the same- Way; the third tank, however, after doubling thenumber on the bottom, has 20 added to it, as stated above; and so on, asabove described, in case a player obtains a fourth or fifth tank.

The interest in the game is accentuated by having one of the checkers onthe German side with the iron cross top and bottom, and this checker isentitled the joker, and if this checker is captured, it is characterizedas getting the Kaiser, and counts for 100 in the score.

The game is not over until the last checker or tank has been captured,and layers must guess at the number since the underneat 1 the checker,1t 1s practically 1mpos'sible to determine who, is the Winner until allthe: plays have been made.

with the zest of the game, will afford recreation and relaxation.

What I claim is:

1. A game apparatus comprising a checker-board, a plurality ofgame-pieces having numbers on the bottom faces and bearing insignia ontheir upper faces characteristic of different countries, and one of saidpieces havin such insignia instead of a number on the ottom face.

2. A game apparatus comprising a checker-board, a plurality of gamepieces having numbers on the bottom faces and bearing insignia on theirupper faces characteristic of different countries, figures representingtanks arranged at the ends of the square forming the playing field andoutside said field and game-pieces arranged to rest on said figures,said last-named gamepieces bearing the head-gear characteristic ofdifferent countries, and some of said. figures having numbers thereon.

3. A game apparatus comprising a checker-board, a, plurality ofgame-pieces having numbers on the bottom faces and bearing insignia ontheir upper faces characteristic of different countries, the difi'erentlines of squares on said board representing strategic militarypositions, such as first trench, second trench and artillery.

4. A game apparatus comprising a checker-board, a pluralit ofgame-pieces having numbers on the ottom faces and bearing insignia ontheir upper faces characteristic of different countries, and scoringsections arranged at each side of said board comprising a rectangularfigure made up of rows each having three squares, the top row containingciphers, the second row ones, and so forth down to the tenth row ofnines, and said squares having openings for the reception of pins.

In testimony whereof I, the said ALBERT F. EMMoNs, have hereunto set myhand.

ALBERT F. EMMONS.

Witnesses:

Rom. D. TOTTEN, J OHN F. WILL.

